Morning News Digest: July 10, 2009

An increasing number of school districts are offering public preschool, the idea being that teaching children early will help their learning — and save school districts money — down the road. (Rundquist, The Star-Ledger)

N.J. man, prominent Democratic fundraiser, named as U.S. ambassador to Germany

Philip Murphy, a Monmouth County resident who is a prominent Democratic fundraiser and former Goldman Sachs colleague of Gov. Jon Corzine, was named tonight as President Obama's ambassador to Germany. (Heininger, The Star-Ledger)

President Obama, Gov. Corzine event moved to PNC Bank Arts Center due to high ticket demand

Gov. Jon Corzine is moving a campaign rally with President Obama next week from Rutgers University in New Brunswick to the PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel after the campaign was swamped by requests to attend the free event with the president. (Heininger, The Star-Ledger)

New Jersey is making strides in its effort to ensure federal stimulus aid doesn't get abused in a state well known for corruption, a new report released by the federal Government Accountability Office says. (Reitmeyer, The Star-Ledger)

Federal and local authorities arrested 846 New Jersey fugitives, some of whom are "incredibly violent, incredibly dangerous," during a monthlong operation, law enforcement officials said today. (Megerian, The Star-Ledger)

3rd District Assembly hopeful urged to quit over 'insensitive' remarks

A Republican candidate for Assembly in the 3rd District has been asked to drop out of the race by Gloucester County's GOP chairman because of "insensitive" comments. (McCarthy, Gloucester County Times)

Rowan University faculty and staff would take seven unpaid furlough days this year and see their raises deferred in exchange for a no-layoff pledge until 2011, under an agreement reached this week between the Corzine administration and the bargaining agency for New Jersey's nine state colleges and universities. (Graber, Gloucester County Times)

The New Jersey driver testing system is undergoing an overhaul. The Motor Vehicle Commission announced yesterday that Robbinsville-based New Jersey Business Systems has been awarded a contract valued at about $4 million to update the system. (The Inquirer)

A former executive director of the Poricy Park Conservancy stole $10,219 from the nonprofit organization's coffers so she could make mortgage payments on her Bridgewater home, the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office said (Penton, Asbury Park Press)

A Freehold man has filed a class-action lawsuit against Live Nation that alleges the company violated the state's consumer protection laws when it sold him tickets for a concert at the PNC Bank Arts Center. (Penton, Asbury Park Press)

In an email-web video blast to supporters last night, Corzine '09 Campaign Manager Maggie Moran said the campaign's original intention to encamp at Rutgers New Brunswick for a rally with President Barack Obama won't work. (Pizarro, PolitickerNJ)